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New version of Kinesis Advantage coming late 2021

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Re: New version of Kinesis Advantage coming late 2021

#11

The new iteration is called Advantage360, has contoured key wells (of course), and is fully split (omg, omg)! Kinesis is looking for feedback to finalize some details (link in their facebook post).

A fully split Advantage is a really interesting prospect. I have a Freestyle Edge RGB at home that I really like, and an Advantage at work that I haven't used in over a year.

My biggest complaint about the Advantage is the placement of the arrow keys in the bottom row. I never got used to them (and I sometimes use vi with a Dvorak layout). I hit them by accident far more often than on purpose. From the survey, it appears to me that they are still in approximately the same location.

Re: New version of Kinesis Advantage coming late 2021

#12
post #6

Oh wow, I've been a KINESIS user for years, and I thought I knew their product line well. But their new gaming keyboards, the Freestyle Edge[1] and the TKO[2] totally snuck up on me. [1]: https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/edge/#shop [2]: https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/tko/

I used edge for a year.

Steep learning curve. Arrow keys are hard to find.

Amazing for my shoulders.

Got the brown keys. I regret. Too squishy

Re: New version of Kinesis Advantage coming late 2021

#14
post #6

Oh wow, I've been a KINESIS user for years, and I thought I knew their product line well. But their new gaming keyboards, the Freestyle Edge[1] and the TKO[2] totally snuck up on me. [1]: https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/edge/#shop [2]: https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/tko/

I've been using the Freestyle Edge for the past year or so. Before that, I had used the Microsoft Natural keyboard for many years because I never found a mechanical ergonomic keyboard I liked and found affordable. The Edge keyboard has been awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking to upgrade to mechanical, but in the style of the Microsoft Natural 4000 series.

I have an Edge I bought for a new job in February 2020. It's been sitting there for a while now! I'm at home mainly on my a Freestyle2, which alas, is a decade old about & starting to get sticky. I have the VIP tilt kit & ascent 90 degree adapter, Wich I switch between & treasure. Just wish there were a chair mount kit!!

I had the MS Natural when it was first released. Friends looked at it like an alien artifact dropped down, but at the time dual monitors, a case with some fan switches on it, & other artifacts were also utterly bizarre & new.

In college I made the awesome move of getting a second Natural keyboard, which I used like a split keyboard. I loved it & still think it's probably the best ergonomics I've ever had. I have the extra long cable for the Edge & just can't imagine surviving with the relative short default split keyboard cables- sometimes it feels great to put my arms out, not just in front of me. The dual keyboards similarly gave me that radical flexibility. What I can't get from the edge & freestyle is the countoured feel of those dual natural.

And alas, this new Advantage will have the deal breaker that just is too weird for me- linear columns, no staggered rows. I really want the ergonomic contouring, but totally changing how all the keys are lain out is part of the Advantage package & it's imo terrible.

Re: New version of Kinesis Advantage coming late 2021

#15
Anyone here use gaming keypads for programming?

I came across these two, which look interesting, but might require significant work to be used as keyboard replacements.

Razer - https://www.amazon.com/Razer-Tartarus-Progammable-Detachable...

Azeron - https://www.amazon.com/Azeron-Classic-Programmable-Customize...

Re: New version of Kinesis Advantage coming late 2021

#17
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using the Freestyle Edge for the past year or so. Before that, I had used the Microsoft Natural keyboard for many years because I never found a mechanical ergonomic keyboard I liked and found affordable. The Edge keyboard has been awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking to upgrade to mechanical, but in the style of the Microsoft Natural 4000 series.

I have an Edge I bought for a new job in February 2020. It's been sitting there for a while now! I'm at home mainly on my a Freestyle2, which alas, is a decade old about & starting to get sticky. I have the VIP tilt kit & ascent 90 degree adapter, Wich I switch between & treasure. Just wish there were a chair mount kit!! I had the MS Natural when it was first released. Friends looked at it like an alien artifact drop…

The keys arranged in vertical columns has been a God-send for me. It took a week to get used to but boy are they comfortable to type on! That, and for the first time in my life, thanks in part to the key arrangement, I can touch-type every key (alpha, nums, symbols, f-keys etc.).

I highly recommend giving this layout a chance.

Re: New version of Kinesis Advantage coming late 2021

#18

No more F keys on it :( I like having my media controls in hardware.

I have never liked the tiny f-keys so I have them on a layer. I have always been like just give me full size f-keys or take ‘em away.

I also have media keys on a layer. I touch-type every key on the keeb and, at least for me, it’s impossible to touch-type the tiny f-keys.

Re: New version of Kinesis Advantage coming late 2021

#19
post #6

Oh wow, I've been a KINESIS user for years, and I thought I knew their product line well. But their new gaming keyboards, the Freestyle Edge[1] and the TKO[2] totally snuck up on me. [1]: https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/edge/#shop [2]: https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/tko/

I used edge for a year. Steep learning curve. Arrow keys are hard to find. Amazing for my shoulders. Got the brown keys. I regret. Too squishy

Brown as in Cherry MX Brown??

Re: New version of Kinesis Advantage coming late 2021

#20
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using the Freestyle Edge for the past year or so. Before that, I had used the Microsoft Natural keyboard for many years because I never found a mechanical ergonomic keyboard I liked and found affordable. The Edge keyboard has been awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking to upgrade to mechanical, but in the style of the Microsoft Natural 4000 series.

I have an Edge I bought for a new job in February 2020. It's been sitting there for a while now! I'm at home mainly on my a Freestyle2, which alas, is a decade old about & starting to get sticky. I have the VIP tilt kit & ascent 90 degree adapter, Wich I switch between & treasure. Just wish there were a chair mount kit!! I had the MS Natural when it was first released. Friends looked at it like an alien artifact drop…

By the way, before I switched over to Kinesis Advantage 2 years ago (due to a severe case of RSI), I used MS natural keyboard for quiet a while and I liked it a lot. It’s probably still the best entry-level ergonomics keyboard out there!
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